A Place Called Freedom

This lush novel, set in 1766 England and America, evokes an era ripe with riot and revolution, from the teeming streets of London to the sprawling grounds of a Virginia plantation. Mack McAsh burns with the desire to escape his life of slavery in Scottish coal mines while Lizzie Hallim is desperate to shed a life of sheltered subjugation to her spineless husband. United in America, their only chance for freedom lies beyond the Western frontier - if they're brave enough to take it.

Plum Island

Wounded in the line of duty, NYPD homicide cop John Corey is convalescing in rural eastern Long Island when an attractive young couple he knows is found shot to death on the family patio. The victims were biologists at Plum Island, a research site rumored to be an incubator for germ warfare. Suddenly, a local double murder takes on shattering global implications - and thrusts Corey and two extraordinary women into a dangerous search for the secret of Plum Island....

Night over Water

On a bright September morning in 1939, two days after Britain declares war on Germany, a group of privileged but desperate people gather in Southhampton to board the largest, most luxurious airliner ever built - the Pan American Clipper - bound for New York.

Hornet Flight

It's June 1941, and the low point of the war. England throws wave after wave of RAF bombers across the Channel, but somehow the Luftwaffe is able to shoot them down at will. The skies, indeed, the war itself seem to belong to Hitler.

Blood Work

Thanks to a heart transplant, former FBI agent Terrell McCaleb is enjoying a quiet retirement, renovating the fishing boat he lives on in Los Angeles Harbor. But McCaleb's calm seas turn choppy when a story in the "What Happened To?" column of the LA Times brings him face-to-face with the sister of the woman whose heart now beats in his chest.

The Winds of War

Herman Wouk's sweeping epic of World War II stands as the crowning achievement of one of America's most celebrated storytellers. Like no other books about the war, Wouk's spellbinding narrative captures the tide of global events - and all the drama, romance, heroism, and tragedy of World War II - as it immerses us in the lives of a single American family drawn into the very center of the war's maelstrom.

Zero Day

From David Baldacci - the modern master of the thriller and number-one worldwide best-selling novelist - comes a new hero: a lone Army Special Agent taking on the toughest crimes facing the nation. John Puller is a combat veteran and the best military investigator in the U.S. Army's Criminal Investigative Division. His father was an Army fighting legend, and his brother is serving a life sentence for treason in a federal military prison. Puller has an indomitable spirit and an unstoppable drive to find the truth.

Chiefs

In 1919, Delano, Georgia, appoints its first chief of police. Honest and hardworking, the new chief is puzzled when young men start to disappear. But his investigation is ended by the fatal blast from a shotgun. Delano's second chief-of-police is no hero, yet he is also disturbed by what he sees in the missing-persons bulletins. In 1969, when Delano's third chief takes over, the unsolved disappearances still haunt the police files.

Deception Point: A Novel

When a NASA satellite discovers an astonishingly rare object buried deep in the Arctic ice, the floundering space agency proclaims a much-needed victory, a victory with profound implications for NASA policy and the impending presidential election. To verify the authenticity of the find, the White House calls upon the skills of intelligence analyst Rachel Sexton. Accompanied by a team of experts, including the charismatic scholar Michael Tolland, Rachel travels to the Arctic and uncovers the unthinkable.

Lie Down with Lions

Ellis, the American. Jean-Pierre, the Frenchman.... They were two men on opposite sides of the cold war, with a woman torn between them. Together, they formed a triangle of passion and deception, racing from terrorist bombs in Paris to the violence and intrigue of Afghanistan - and on to the moment of truth and a deadly decision for all of them.

Where There's Smoke

No one knows why Lara Mallory opens up her medical practice in the rowdy Texas town where Tackett Oil owns everything. But everyone remembers her role in the well-publicized scandal that caused the downfall of White House hopeful Senator Clark Tackett. Now the ironfisted matriarch of Tackett Oil intends to use her money and power to drive Lara out of town...especially when Lara meets Key, the hell-raising, youngest Tackett son.

Fall of Giants: The Century Trilogy, Book 1

Ken Follett's World Without End was a global phenomenon, a work of grand historical sweep beloved by millions of readers and acclaimed by critics. Fall of Giants is his magnificent new historical epic. The first novel in The Century Trilogy, it follows the fates of five interrelated families - American, German, Russian, English, and Welsh - as they move through the world-shaking dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for women's suffrage.

The Stranger

The Stranger appears out of nowhere, perhaps in a bar or a parking lot or at the grocery store. His identity is unknown. His motives are unclear. His information is undeniable. Then he whispers a few words in your ear and disappears, leaving you picking up the pieces of your shattered world.

Masters of the Air: America’s Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany

This is the dramatic story of the American bomber boys in World War II who brought the war to Hitler’s doorstep. With the narrative power of fiction, this is a harrowing ride through the fire-filled skies over Berlin, Hanover, and Dresden. Fighting at twenty-five thousand feet in thin, freezing air no warriors had encountered before, bomber crews battled new kinds of assaults on body and mind. Air combat was deadly but intermittent: periods of inactivity and anxiety were followed by short bursts of fire and fear.

Triptych

From Atlanta's wealthiest suburbs to its stark inner-city housing projects, a killer has crossed the boundaries of wealth and race. And the people who are chasing him must cross those boundaries, too. Among them is Michael Ormewood, a veteran detective whose marriage is hanging by a thread and whose arrogance and explosive temper are threatening his career. And Angie Polaski, a beautiful vice cop who was once Michael's lover before she became his enemy.

Without Remorse

His work for the CIA is brilliant, cold-blooded, and efficient, but who is he? In a harrowing tour de force, phenomenally best-selling author Tom Clancy shows how an ordinary man named John Kelly crossed the lines of justice and morality to become the CIA legend known as Mr. Clark. It is an unforgettable journey into the heart of darkness, without mercy - without remorse.

The Quiet Game

When former prosecutor Penn Cage returns to his hometown of Natchez, Mississippi, he doesn't find the peace he desperately craves. He finds that his own father is being blackmailed by a corrupt ex-cop. And when Penn investigates, he uncovers a murderous secret - and the small town's violent past.

First to Kill

When you're the best at what you do, it's not always easy to walk away. Nathan McBride was retired. The trained Marine sniper and covert CIA operative had put the violence of his former life behind him. But not anymore. A deep-cover FBI agent has disappeared along with one ton of powerful Semtex explosive, enough to unleash a disaster of international proportions. The U.S. government has no choice but to coax Nathan out of retirement.

The Gray Man

Court Gentry is known as The Gray Man - a legend in the covert realm, moving silently from job to job, accomplishing the impossible, and then fading away. And he always hits his target. But there are forces more lethal than Gentry in the world. And in their eyes, Gentry has just outlived his usefulness. Now, he is going to prove that for him, there's no gray area between killing for a living-and killing to stay alive.

The Sleeping Doll: A Novel

Ten years ago in California, Daniel Pell, a self-styled Charles Manson, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering an entire family: husband, wife, and two children, plus one of his young male followers. He is brought to Salinas, California, to interview with Kathryn Dance after he is implicated in yet another killing. Things go terribly wrong during an interview break, and Pell escapes, intent on killing again.

Medicus: A Novel of the Roman Empire

Gaius Petrius Ruso is a divorced and down-on-his-luck army doctor who has made the rash decision to seek his fortune in an inclement outpost of the Roman Empire, namely Britannia. After a 36-hour shift at the army hospital, he succumbs to a moment of weakness and rescues an injured slave girl, Tilla, from the hands of her abusive owner. And before he knows it, Ruso is caught in the middle of an investigation into the deaths of prostitutes working out of the local bar.

Publisher's Summary

In 1866 tragedy strikes at the exclusive Windfield School when a mysterious accident takes the life of a student. Among the student's circle of friends are Hugh Pilaster; Hugh's older cousin Edward, dissolute heir to the Pilaster banking fortune; and Micky Miranda, the handsome son of a brutal South American oligarchy. The death and its aftermath begin the spiraling circle of treachery that will span three decades and entwine many lives.

From the exclusive men's clubs that cater to every dark desire of England's upper classes to the luxurious ballrooms of the manipulators of the world's wealth, Follett conjures up a stunning panorama of intrigue. A Dangerous Fortune brings us characters swept toward a perilous climax in which greed, fed by the shocking truth of a young man's death, must be stopped - or the dreams of a nation will die.

What the Critics Say

"Breathlessly plotted...relentlessly suspenseful." (The New York Times)"Ken Follett is a matchless storyteller, and this story is tailor-made for audio....With Follett teamed up with Page, you can't stop listening." (AudioFile)

Ken Follett never fails to entertain, and though this is not his best book it's got that "Can't stop listening, got to find out what happens next" quality that is the mark of a natural storyteller. I waffled between three and four stars - and decided on four because of that very quality. As always Follett introduces numerous engrossing if two-dimensional characters, he's great with his villains, the story moves at a great clip. The book is predictable, but still a fun read, almost a guilty pleasure.

Ken Follet is my favorite author when he writes period pieces. His best was Pillars of the earth and right behind that was World without end. This book comes in third and that is why I gave it only four stars. It is pretty hard to match those first two books. The characters in this book are interesting and some very evil. The way he writes makes you believe they are real though. I won't give away the plot but will just say it held my attention and interest and is worth the download credit.

I'm a real Follett fan, but I ran tepid and cool on this one. The turn-off for me was all the emphasis on bosoms and sex, crying and tears, women and men, page after page, chapter after chapter, ad nauseum (and I'm a boob man, too). A real soap opera.

Other than that, it was ok with interesting twists and turns although the overall plot was somewhat pedestrian, predictable and quite unbelievable. Descriptions of 19th century London with its brothels, mistresses and royal parties seemed authentic and it gave me a much better feel for the British class system and how it worked. The hierarchy of royal titles and how they are obtained was interesting, too.

Also on the positive side, there were some events depicted and resolved (if a bit tritely) that accurately parallel the horrible financial situation that we're presently experiencing. There's an interesting twist at the end, too.

But, oh yes, this is a book review of a thriller. Not too thrilling, but I did finish it.

The reader was excellent. He altered his voice nicely to represent individual characters, and maintained it throughout the book. This made following the sometimes intricate plot a bit easier.

Of the recent Follet audible releases I have listened to (Eye of the Needle, Triple, Lie down with Lions) this is by far the best.

This one ranks right up there with my top three Follet Favorites (Pillars, World, and Hornet Flight).

This genre piece centered around Victorian English life-style in the late 1800's, captures the true pomp and circumstance of the English Monarchy culture of the time to a perfectly ridiculous level of absurdity.

The character development is excellent and in the end - just like Pillars - when asked to explain what the story was about or why it was good, you'll just have to say... "Just listen... I promise it's good, because if I explain it too much, it won't sound as interesting as it really is!"

Excellent story, *very* intricate plot, many villains and heroes. If you aren't a careful listener (or like me - listen when I *shouldn't* like when using the language part of my brain) -my own fault) you'll find yourself rewinding a lot because so much is packed in it. Don't let the caveat discourage you. D.F. has it all: love, romance, lust, heroism, gold-digging, social climbing, and villainy! Of course, the characters are a BIT two dimensional (good v. bad)..the plot is anything but! This is a thriller, not a Greek tragedy. There is so much double dealing and backstabbing there is a need to remind yourself who is allied with whom. Don't worry this makes your money/credit last longer. Follett did his homework on 19th century London because you get a perfect sketch of the class systems at that time in both: descriptions of elegant of upper classes and the gritty licentiousness of the lower class where the upper go "slumming", quite literally, as that is where all the REAL fun is located. I avoid spoilers because we all use these reviews to decide if a book is well read, produced, etc. (i.e. done well or poorly enough) to BUY. So I shan't give away any secrets even if some prior reviews have given away some pretty substantial hints. Remember, it is all about HOW it all happens and the general the details that are supposed get tied up so nicely.(NOTE: This reviewer *used* to give 5s a lot, and now saves a 5th star for "must listens." So a 4 or 5 means VERY entertaining. I would NOT give a "classic" 5 stars just to give it homage and to create a snobbish persona if it was a dull listen.)

Formula Ken Follett. Engaging but then the story becomes too predictable with bad things happening over and over again to the "good guys" and the "bad guys" continually having everything go their way. The ending did have a surprising twist.

Ken Follett is one of the contemporary authors who both excite and annoy me. I have read Follett novels that are brilliant (i.e, Eye of the Needle) and hopeless messes (i.e., Jackdaws) For me, Dangerous Fortune is on the side of brillance. Follett takes that overdone and predictable plot wherein a bunch of school chums participate in a crime that comes back to haunt them years later. Such begins Dangerous Fortune. What moves Follett's characters into the field of art is the author's artistry. He shapes and presents each character so decidedly that the reader is never lost. These characters have style, wit and purpose and Follett throws them at us with brave gusto. Aided by a great narrator, Michael Page, Ken Follett's brillance is on every page. I loved this book and was sorry when it was over.

This book is not high literature, but it sure is entertaining. As usual, author Ken Follett has an intricate, well executed plot with a historical background. The parallel between the banking scandals during period of the book and now are striking. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose.
The villain in this story meets a hilarious and well deserved end.
For pure entertainment, this is a great choice.

I thorougly enjoyed this audio book. I've read a lot of Ken Follet and found this book to be very entertaining. It's shorter and lighter then Pillars & World but includes very good charactor building and a nicely paced story. I highly recommend it.

I hardly have the words... this novel was not what it appeared from the publisher's summary. There was a murder mystery set among the upper eschelons of Victorian London, but there was also the seemy underside not mentioned in it. Brothels abound, and the scenes set in them, and in facct all of the scenes involving sex, were grotesque, off-putting, and faintly disturbing. I must assume that this was the desired effect, because it was done so consistantly, but still... The rest of the story was all right, but in no way particularly engaging. The characters weren't deep, the plot was not especially clever, and over everything was the twisted, grotesque sex, even in the simplest things. The only good thing I can find to say is that the narrator is quite enjoyable.

I grabbed this as a way in to Follet while not having to sit through 50 hours of Pillars of the Earth. I was not disappointed. The story is masterfully crafted and keeps moving with the two main plots being whether or not Hugh and Maisy will get together and when or if the bad guywill get his due deserts. Great story, great characters and an unusual but satisfying, fitting end.

I loved it and fear I will have no choice now but to take the plunge and get Pillars of the Earth!

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

barjil

BEMBRIDGE, United Kingdom

4/4/13

Overall

"Disappointing"

I usually read the comments from readers before I buy a book, and these generally confirm the fact that reading taste is a totally individual thing - books I love some people can't finish and vice versa. Readers I enjoy are irritating to others and so on. However, whatever criticism I read of Ken Follett I'd probably ignore because the books he writes are usually well researched and the subject matter interesting. Not this time, though. All the people in it are horrible and their lives tawdry and I'm limping on to the end because I don't like to give up. I suppose it does point up the morals and social differences of the 19th century but says nothing original on the subject. After the blockbusters on the 20th century that he's written, this is a sad disappointment.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Kirstine

Bonnyrigg, United Kingdom

5/22/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"A splendid melodrama"

Set in the second half of the 19th century the story starts with an unexplained drowning at a public school. The lives of the boys involved are entertainingly intertwined in this melodramatically good yarn of how that accident had ramifications down the decades. Like a fairy-tale good and evil battle it out, but here the failure of banks is the topical backdrop to characters who revel in villainy, licentiousness and intrigue set against those who are honourable, loyal and parsimonious. The story is full of suspense as the fortunes of the Pilaster banking family are affected by favoritism, folly, felony and foreign events. There are some wonderfully over-the-top characters such as the domineering mother, Augusta, and the devilishly attractive and manipulative Micky Miranda from South America. Class, race, gender and religious prejudices abound in this colourful narrative with its Victorian values and the consequent hypocrisy.

I greatly enjoyed this book and thought the narrator excellent.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Amy

Kilkenny, Ireland

7/21/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"Wonderful addictive story"

After listening to all Ken Follett's epic novels, I downloaded this to listen to on holiday. It took a couple of chapters to get in to but after that I just loved it. You hate his villains and love his central characters. Twists, turns and tragedies, classic Follett!!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Brooksies

Belgium

6/27/12

Overall

"Entertaining, Enthralling, Exciting"

I have to say, I love Ken Follet, I've read most of his books and The Pillars of the Earth is one of my all time favourites. I already read this book 15 years ago but it was nice to listen to again. I did not remember all the plot twists and was excited to see how it would all end.
It is written in his laid-back style and you can't wait to here what is going to happen next. Its also a very nice portrayal of the time, with intrigues in the financial world.
Book is also remarkably up to date with all the banks that are crashing at the moment, history repeats itself...
The readingby Michael page is also very nice, with good accents and pauses at the right moments.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

alexander

Dublin 12, Ireland

2/21/16

Overall

Performance

"I had already heard this title."

why was I not made aware until I tried reading it?lplease take it back and refund me my credit. Regards Alexander Ager.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

elizabeth

ALFORD, United Kingdom

7/30/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Good"

What did you like most about A Dangerous Fortune?

The whole story unfolds very nicely

What about Michael Page’s performance did you like?

He brought each charactor to life

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes but I cant reveal it or it might spoil the story

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Mongfhind

7/11/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Well written and enjoyable but not outstanding."

Would you consider the audio edition of A Dangerous Fortune to be better than the print version?

I prefer audio books as I can listen to and enjoy them anywhere. Audio books comes into its own when carrying out boring tasks like ironing or on a tedious bus journey to work.

What other book might you compare A Dangerous Fortune to, and why?

I compare A Dangerous Fortune to other works by Ken Follett which I have read and enjoyed, Fall of Giants, Winter of the World and the Kingsbridge novels all of whom are well researched, well written and absorbing. Some of the plot of A Dangerous Fortune lacks credibility, however the characters are well-drawn and the overall story is good. I much preferred the narrator John Lee's style to Michael Page's, John Lee portrayal of the different characters was plausible, whereas Michael Page's characters' voices seemed almost comic, especially the older women. They sounded like pantomime dames which was not intention, I'm sure, but it spoiled my enjoyment a little. To balance that though his speech was clear and smooth.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

As I have said above, Michael Page's narration of some of the characters's parts was not as polished as I would have hoped.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Let's say, two or three sittings not one.

Any additional comments?

None springs to mind.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Frank

Hereford, United Kingdom

11/30/11

Overall

"An excellent listen"

It moves at a great pace throughout and is an excellent story. As with previous books by this author one needs to be prepared for some graphic detail and colourful language which I could personally do without, but that said, his storytelling is fantastic.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

John

Perth, United Kingdom

7/31/11

Overall

"A Dangerous Fortune"

Both my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed this terrific book. Superbly researched, excellently read and a real gripper from start to finish. I can certainly recommend this to all Follett fans

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

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